Improvement in billiard-table cushions



JOHN NATUS.

7 Improvement in Billiard Table Cushions" N .123,722.' Y Patented Feb.13,1872.,

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN NATUS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN BlLLlARD-TABLE CUSHIONS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 123,722, dated February 13, 1872.

Improvement in Billiard-Table Cushions; and

1 do declare that the following is a true and accurate description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon and being a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section of the side rail of a billiard-table with my improved cushion attached. Fig. 2 is a perspective of the. same, with portions broken away, and showing a method of tightening the wires. Fig. 3 is a perspective of the opposite end of the cushion.

Like letters indicate like parts in each figure.

The nature of this invention relates to an improvement in the construction of elastic cushions for billiard-tables; and it consists in the peculiar combination and arrangement of the various parts, as more fully hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawing, A represents the side rail of a billiard-table. B is a wire or cord in front of the center piece or wooden body of the cushion. C is a wire or cord in the rear of the center piece. D is the center piece or wooden body of the cushion. E E are metallic bridges (one being placed at each end of the cushion) over which the wires are strained. F is a straining-pin, for the purpose of tightening the wires, and it is provided with a ratchet-wheel, a, and pawl I), for the purpose of holding the strain. G is the Indiarubber cushion. The inwardly-projectin gledge dis provided with a concave recess, h, extending along its whole length upon its inner face.-

Themetallic plates E E are secured the former at one end and the latter at the opposite end of the cushion. A wire is secured to the post or pin k, and thence passes over the inner edge of the plate E and to the opposite end of the cushion; then through the plate E, around the post or pin 0, and, returning through the plate E, back to the opposite end of the cushion, over the inner edge of the plate E to the straining-pin F, where it is secured; thereby carrying, in effect, two wires through the entire length of the cushion, which are marked, respectively, B O. The center piece or wooden body D is convex on its rear side, as shown, and near its lower front edge it is secured, by any suitable means, to the wire or cord B, while its upper rear edge is similarly secured to the wire (J, as shown. The

rubber bearings m are inserted in the recess h in rear of the body D, so that, when the body is violently thrown backward by a stroke of the ball, said body will not come into noisy contact with the concave edge of the ledge. After the parts are arranged they are covered by the India-rubber part G of the cushion and the necessary lining and billiard-cloth.

I am aware of the invention as described in a patent to Matthew Del-any dated November 23, 1869, for an improvement in billiard-table cushions, and utterly disclaim any part in said invention, for the wires used by him are insorted through or embedded in the rubber part of the cushion, and produce an uneven action of the same, the great length of the wires making the cushion act much quicker near the ends than in the center of the cushion, so that the I angles of incidence and reflection vary; while the body D, which I insert between and connect with the wires, as hereinbefore described, causes the cushion to have an even reaction after the impingement of the balls, giving correct angles of incidence and reflection.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In. combination with cords or wires, the center piece or wooden body D, for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with the side rail A, of the wires B 0, body D, and straining-key F, when the parts are constructed and arranged to operate, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the parts named in the preceding paragraph, of the metallic plates E E and posts k e, substantially as set forth.

- JOHN NATUS.

Witnesses:

MYRON H. CHURCH, H. S. SPRAGUE. 

